Sterilizing and preserving apparatus.



N. J. DARDEN.

STERIPIIZING AND PRESERVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS N. J. DARDBN.

STERILIZING AND PRESBRVING' APPARATUS. APPLIGATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

1,083,732. Patented Jan.6,1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2. 44

INVENTOR lVm/m/v fl/smai/v,

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES N. J. DARDEN.

STEBILIZING AND PRESERVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

1,083,732, PatentedJa n.6,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STERILIZING AND PRESERVING APPARATUS.

incense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1912. Serial Ila-725,904,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NEWTON J. DARDEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have made certain new and useful Improvements in sterilizing and Preserving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n devlces for sterilizing and preserving food stuffs and other perishable articles, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device by meansof which articles that are to be preserved may have the surrounding air removed and replaced by a sterilizing medium, such as ozonated air, carbonic acid gas, etc., and in which the articles to be so treated may be sealed hermetically, so as to prevent the spoilingor decaying of the articles so treated;

A further object of my invention is to provide a device by rneans of which the sterilizing medium may be passed through the receptacle which contains the food stuffs, first one way and then the other, thereby insuring thethorough permeation ofthe sterilizing medium;

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for sealing the articles within the receptacle, the sealing of the receptacle being accomplished either while the can is under normal pressure or abnormal pressure as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for holding the 'receptacle and for manipulating it during the operation of preserving or sterilizing.

A further object of my invention is to providemeans whereby the operation of sealing may be watched without any danger of any of the sterilizing fluids escaping.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings forming part of this applicationiin which-' Figure 1 is a side view showing the general arrangement of the apparatus, Fig. 1 is a section along the line l'-1" of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of certain portions of the apparatus, Fig. 3 is a,

plan view of the upper part of the device, Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of the receptacle for holding the sealing material,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the means for view, showing the tube in its closed condi-' tion, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

In carrying out my invention I provide a main frame consisting of a bottom memher 1, side members 2 anda top member 4:. The side members 2 are V-shaped as shown inv Fig. 1 and are arranged to receive the ends of a slidable cross member 5. The latter is provided with a central portion 5 having an opening at 5 arranged to receive a portion 6 of a screw shaft 6. The latter is provided wit-h a head 6, a Washer 7 being disposed between the head 6 and the portion 5. A nut 8 is provided for holding the screw shaft in place, and is disposed in a recess 5. The shaft 6 is arranged to enter a threaded member 9, which is secured to the base 1, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the screw shaft 6 is provided with a handle 7 for turning the shaft.

The cross member 5 is provided with uprights 10, which support an annular platen 11. The cross member also bears lugs 12, through which a pipe 3 extends. This-pipe 3 is provided with an upwardly extending central portion 13 over which is fitted a resilient cone-shaped member 14 of rubber or other suitable material, this member being hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, and being arranged to project normally above the platen, as shown in Fig. 1. It is held on thetube portion 13 bymeans of'a ring 15.

To the upper member 4: of "the frame is secured a cylinder 16 whose lower end extends through an opening 4 in the member 4.. The lower end has a reduced portion '16 around which is a resilient sleeve '17. The sleeve is provided with a flange 17. arranged to extend under the end of the por' tion 16*, as shown in Fig. 2. An outwardly extending flange 17 is provided at. the top of the resilient member 17, and lies just underneath a shoulder on the member 16 A ring 18, which is threaded to engage 'a'portion of the member 16 holds the resilient sleeve 17 in place. This sleeve may be made of rubber or other suitable material.

The pipe 19 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 16, and is provided with a valve 19 The pipe 19 is designed to communicate with the pipe 3, a flexible connection 20 being provided. The valves 21 and 22 are for the purpose of controlling the flow of fluid through these pipes. On the opposite side of the device is a pipe 19 having a valve 19. This pipe communicates with the pipe 3, by means of a flexible connection 20, valves 21 and 22 being provided which are similar to the valves 21 and 22 on the opposite side of the device. The pipe 19 leads to a source (not shown) of sterilizing fluid, such as ozonated air and is provided with a valve 19. A branch pipe23, having a valve 23 leads to a source of compressed nitrogen or other inert gas.

The top of the cylinder 16 is providedv with a flange 16 upon which a glass plate 24 rests, a resilient washer 25 being provided to take the strain off the glass. The glass is held in place by means of a cover 26, which fits over the top of the cylinder 16, a gasket or washer 27 being provided above the glass, as shown in Fig. 2. Disposed above thetop 26 is a spider 28, which is provided with bolts 29 that are arranged to extend through the spider and through lugs 30 on the side of the cylinder, thus holding the spider firmly to the top of the cylinder. The purpose of the glass plate 24 is to enable all the manipulations within the sealing cylinder to be viewed from the outside.

Extending through alined central openings in the glass plate and spider is a threaded tube 31, whose head 32 engages underneath the glass, a gasket 33 being provided between the head and the glass. tube is filled with packing material 34. A nut 35 holds the tube in position, while an adjustable member 36 engages the threads on the upper end of the tube, and is provided with a portion 36 arranged to extend into the tube for the purpose of compressing the packing.

Arranged to extend through the packing gland thus formed is a cylinder 37 like that shown in Fig. 5. This cylinder has an enlarged portion 37 at its upper end, and is provided with an adjustable member 37 A central rod 38 extends through the packing gland thus formed and through the cylinder. The lower end of the cylindrical rod 37 is provided with a head 39, which is screwed to the cylinder, and held by means of a set screw 40. The head 39 has integral fingers 41 of the shape shown in Fig. 6. These fingers are closer together at their lower ends than at their tops, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 and may be forced apart by thrusting the rod 38 through the tube 37 so that the end of the rod comes in contact with the fingers and tends to spread them apart. The cylinder 16 and its extension 16 constitutes a charging chamber for the preserving receptacle, as will be explained later.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a receptacle 42 for the sealing material. This receptacle is provided with a top in the form of a This screw cap 43 having a central threaded opening through which a valve stem 44 extends. The end of the valve stem is arranged to seat in the end of the pipe 45,

which passes through the side of the cylinder 36, and which has a downwardly'extending communicating pipe 46. The receptacle 42 is designed to be heated in anysuitable manner so as'to maintain the sealing material in liquid condition. A pres-' sure gage 47 is provided for indicating pres sure on the interior of the cylinder 16.

The receptacle for holding the matter to be sterilizedand preser'ved is shown at 48, and may be of any convenient shape, but is preferably a cylinder which is provided at its upper end with bosses 49 having threaded sockets arranged to receive bolts 50 for securing the top 51 to the receptacle, The top 51 has an opening 52 arranged to receive a tube 53 which is threaded externally and internally. The bottom portion of this tube haslaterally extendingbranches such as those shown at 54 and 55. The tube is provided With a shoulder 56, which engages the under side of the top 51 to'which it is firmly held by means of a nut 57. Each of the tubes 54 and 55 is provided with a cut-off valve, such as that shown at 54 and having a valve stem 54 which extends through the top.

' An inner annular tube t is provided which extends around the interior of the receptacle. This tube is .provided with perforations 58 in its bottom. A central tube 59 is screwed into the bottom of the tube 53.

The bottom 51 of the receptacle may be provided with a tube 53 similar to the tube 53 and with a nut 57 for holding the latter in place. The laterally extending branches 54 and 55 are similar to the branches 54 and 55 already described, and are provided with valves similar to the valve 54*. The bottom of the receptacle is also provided with a circular tube 60 having perforations 61 in its top.

From the foregoing description of the .various parts of the devicethe operation thereof may be readily understood. The arti-' cles to be preserved are placed in the receptacle 48 by removing the top 51. The receptacle is then placed on the resilient member 14 after the top has been replaced and the handle 7 is turned. This will force the receptacle upwardly, the top 53 and the nut 57 entering the opening in the bottom of the reduced portion 6 of the cylinder 16. The top 51 of the receptacle is forced up against the flange 17 of the resilient sleeve 17. Now as the screw is turned further the resilient member 14 is forced dpwnwardly so as to allow the bottom of the can to rest on the platen 1.1, while the top of the can is securely held against the flanged portion 17 of the sleeve1'7. Thus both the top and the oews-e munication with the pipes which extend to the sources ofgas, or rather sterilizing media, and the can is securely sealed around its openings from the outer atmosphere. The pipe 19 is designed tocommunicate with a' pump (not shown) or other means for exhausting the air. The valves 19 and 22 are closed, and the exhaustion of the air is accomplished either through the top of the receptacle or through the bottom or through both by proper turning of the valve 19 '21 and 22. When .the'air has been suificiently exhausted the valves 19 and 22, are closed while the valves 19 controlling the pipe,

which leads to the ozonated air or other antiseptic fluid, and the valves 22 and 21 are opened. Ozonated air now passes through into the interior of the cylinder 16, thence downwardly through the tube 53 and through the central pipe 59, the valve 54: being closed, thence through the articles to be sterilized into the pipes 61 through the pipes 541 and 55 and out through the pipes 3 and 20. In order to insure the thorough sterilization of the articles to be treated, it may close the valves 19 and 22 and open the valves 21, 22 and 19 This will cause the ozonated air or other sterilizing fluid to pass through the bottom of the can, thence through the arms 54 and 55, through the pipe 61, and'out by way oi the pipe 59 and the pipe 19. It will thus be seen that by passing the gas both ways, a thorough permeation of the articles to *be treated may be secured.

In some instances I may wish to displace the sterilizing fluid with some inert gas like nitrogen, and in this case I may close the valve 19 leading to the ozonated air or other sterilizing fluid and open the valve 23- in the pipe 23, thereby letting in nitrogen under a pressure.

In case I desire to treat a liquid such as to carbonate waters or beverages, I may close the valves 1 9 and 21 and thosein the pipes 54: and 55. When the valve l9 is opened the gas under pressure may flow into the interior of the cylinder 16, thence downwardly through the tube 59. In this instance the perforations in the tube 59 are located at the bottom, and the gas will pass out through these perforations into the liquid. Pressure may be continued as long as desired. Now by opening the valve 19 and the valves in the pipes 54. and 55, the gas under pressure will be forced outwardly through the perforated annular tube 58, through the pipes 55, and thence through the pipe 19. The liquid itself will form an effective seal, so as to insure the passage of the gas outwardly toward the pipe 56, thus etiectively causing the gas to pass through all portions of the liquid.

IVhen it is desired to l the receptacle the screw plug 65, wliien carried by the fingers 41, is inserted in the tube 53 and screwed down into the position shown in Fig.5. The rod 38 is now withdrawn from the hollow rod 37 and the spring fingers 41 leave the recess of the plug 65, thereby permitting the rod 37 to be drawn up wardly. The valve 14 in the scaling receptacle 42 is now turned, so as to admit sealing fluid, which passes downwardly through the pipe 4.5, and is deposited above the plug 65 so as to form an additional sealing layer 66, as shown in Fig. 5 The can is now eiiectually sealed, but in order to provide an additional sealing member, I release the can by turning the handle 7 backwardly, which brings the can down into the position shown in Fig. l. I now insert the screw plug 67 in the top of the tube 53. This plug compresses the sealing material against the lower plug 65. The sealing material may be any suitable substances such .as Jparafin wax, sealing wax, or in some instances solder.

, Instead of using sealing material, I may use a resilient member such as a disk of rubber or other suitable material, the plug 67 pressing the rubber firmly against the lower plug 65.

I claim:

1. In a device for sterilizing and preserving, a receptacle having an open end, a charging chamber having an open end facing the receptacle, a tube disposed in the open end of the receptacle and arranged to enter the open end of the charging chamber. means carried by the wall of said charging chamber for closing said tube, said lastnan'ied means comprising a rod movably mounted in the wall of said charging chamher, a screw plug carried by said rod and arranged to be screwed into the end of said tube, and means carried by the rod for disengaging the latter it'rom the screw plug.

2. In a device for sterilizing and preserving, a receptacle having an open end, a charging chamber having an open end facing the receptacle, a tube disposed in the open end of the receptacle and arranged to enter the open end of the charging chamber, means carried by the wall of said charging cham ber for closing said tube, said last named means comprising a rod mo vably mounted in the wall of said charging chamber, a screw plug carried by said rod and arranged to be screwed into the end of said tube, means carried by the rod for disengaging the latter from the screw plug, and means for de positing a layer of sealing material upon said screw'plug while the latter is within the charging chamber. 1

3. In a device for sterilizing and preserving, a receptacle having an open end, a charging chamber having an open end fad. ing the receptacle, tube disposed in the open end or the receptacle and arranged to ranged to be screwed into the end of said tube, means carried by the rod for disengaging the latter from the screw plug, means for depositing a layer of sealing material upon said screw plug while the latter is within the charging chamber, said sealing means comprising a container carried by the wall of said charging chamber externallythereof and arranged to hold sealing material, an inclined pipe extending through the wall and terminatingjust above the end of the tube, and a valve carried by the container for permitting the flow of sealing material through the inclined pipe.

4-. In a sterilizing and preserving apparatus, a receptacle, a charging chamber having an open end, a tube carried by said receptacle and arranged to extend into the open end of the charging chamber, means for sealing the joint between the charging chamber and the receptacle, means for admitting sterilizing fluid into the charging chamber, means carried by the charging chamber for sealing the tube while the latter is in the charging chamher, and meanscarried by the last named sealing means for preventing the escape of sterilizing fluid.

5. In a device for sterilizing and preserving, a charging chamber having an open end, an inlet for sterilizing ,fluid, an outlet for the escape of air or sterilizing fluid,- a receptacle for holding goods to be treated, means for connecting the open end of the charging chamber with the receptacle, a glass top for said charging chamber, and a sealing'device slidably carried by said glass top for closing said receptacle while the latter is connected with the charging chamber.

6. In a sealing apparatus, a charging chamber having an openlower end, a glass top for closing the upper end, said glass top being provided with a central opening, means for securing said glass top to the upper wall of the chamber, said means comprising a spider having an opening therein arranged to register with the opening in the glass, a stufling box arranged to extendthreugh said alined openings, and a slidable rod arranged to extend through said stufling box.

7. In a sterilizing and preserving device, a charging chamber having an open end, a resilient gasket for .said open end, a receptacle having a portion arranged to extend within the open end of said charging chamher, said receptacle having an inlet in its bottom, a platen arranged to receive said receptacle and having an annular central opening, a frame for supporting said charging chamber, a movable'carrying member for supporting said platen, and aresilient gasket arranged to normally extend through the opening in said platen above the level of the platen and to be forced by engagement with said can to the level of the platen.

S. In a sterilizing and preserving apparatus, a receptacle, a charging chamber, an inlet in the bottom of said receptacle,'a tube in the top of said receptacleand arranged to extend into said charging chamber, exhaust pipes connected with said charging chamber and .with the inlet in the bottom of the receptacle, valves for said pipes, pipes for sterilizing fluid connected with said charging chamber and with said inlet in the bottom of the receptacle, and valves for the latter pipes.

9. In a sterilizing and preserving apparatus, a receptacle, a charging chamber, an inlet in the bottom of said receptacle, a tube in the top of said receptacle and arranged to extend into said charging chamber, exhaust pipes connected with said charging chamber and with the inlet in the bottom of the 'receptacle, valves for said pipes, pipes for sterilizing fluid connected with said charging chamber and with said inlet in the bottom of the receptacle, valves for the latter pipes, and means for sealing the upper tube of said receptacle while the latter is within the charging chamber.

10. In a sterilizing and preserving apparatus, a receptacle, a charging chamber, an inlet in the bottom of said receptacle, a tube in the top of said receptacle and arranged to extend into said charging chamber, exhaust pipes connected with said charging chamber and with the inlet in the bottom of the receptacle, valves for said pipes, pipes for sterilizing fluid connected with said charging chamberand with said inlet in the bottom of the receptacle, valves for the latter pipes, means for-sealing the upper tube of said receptacle while the latteris within the charging chamber, and means carried by the receptacle for shutting Ofl" communication between the inlet in the bottom of the receptacle and the interior of the receptacle.

NEWTON J. DARDEN.

lVitnesses L. A. STANLEY, SOLON C. Kmron. 

